March 1978 Official Publication of the Michigan & Border Cities Golf Course Superintendents Association We have the most complete line of turf chemicals in the midwest. Weed-Killers • IBDU-fertilizers • Foggers Diquat • Acti-Dione • Caddy • Cadminate PMAS • Malathion • Microgreen • Dursban Kelthane • Diazinon • Sevin • Proxol Aqua-Gro • Spot-Kleen • Daconil Hydro-Wet • Thiram • Dacthal Fungo • Dyrene • Cleary 3336 Tersan 1991, LSP, SP Calo-gran • Nemacur 2 Tire Wholesalers Company, Inc 19240 West Eight Mile Southfield, Mich. 48075 Phone: (313) 354-5644 (i/2 Mile West of Southfield Road) TRUCK-CAR TRAILER MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRIAL TIRES G O O D Y E A R WE STOCK from 450/310-5 2 Ply to 18-22.5 20 Ply W H O L E S A L E PR IC ES TO C O M M E R C IA L A C C O U N TS CALL GREG OR ROSS FOR A PRICE 4 % t ) % * L MICHIGAN & BORDER i Icolf course! CITIES GOLF COURSE ) SUPERINTENDENTS ) supt ASSOCIATION vZHESHZy P R E S I D E N T CLEM WOLFROM DETROIT GOLF CLUB 530 Kendry Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48013 Off. 345-4589, Res: 334-0140 V I C E P R E S I D E N T BRUCE WOLFROM, CGCS BARTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB 639 Barber Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105 Off. 662-8359, Res. 663-9213 S E C R E T A R Y - T R E A S U R E R ROBERT HOPE, CGCS THE LOCHMOOR CLUB 20740 Marter Road Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan 48236 Off. 881-8112, Res. 884-8684 B O A R D OF D I R E C T O R S JAY DELCAMP GOWANIE GOLF CLUB 19957 Great Oaks Circle South Mt. Clemens, Michigan 48043 Off. 468-1432, Res. 791-8481 ED HEINEMAN WATERS EDGE COUNTRY CLUB 10531 Bellevue Grosse lie, Michigan 48138 Off. 675-0927, Res. 676-3095 ROGER O’CONNELL, CGCS RED RUN GOLF CLUB P.O. Box 38 Royal Oak, Michigan 48068 Off. 541-3184, Res. 399-6916 WARD SWANSON PLUM HOLLOW GOLF CLUB 29642 Westfield Livonia, Michigan 48150 Off. 352*2436, Res. 421-8049 JAMES TIMMERMAN ORCHARD LAKE COUNTRY CLUB 2474 Lafay Orchard Lake, Michigan 48033 Off. 682-2150, Res. 682-7234 WALTER TROMBLEY, CGCS ARROWHEAD GOLF CLUB 3130 Orion Road Lake Orion, Michigan 48035 Off. 373-5240, Res. 693-2924 P R E S I D E N T E M ER IT U S GEORGE W. PRIESKORN BURROUGHS FARM GOLF CLUB 5341 Brighton Road Brighton, Michigan 48116 Off. 227-1381, Res. 229-9437 p m "A PATCH OF GREEN” P ubl¡shed monthly by the MICHIGAN AND BORDER CITIES GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION Circulation: 1,250 Ted Woehrle, CGCS, Oakland H ills C.C. James Timmerman, Orchard Lakes C.C. CO-EDITORS P rinted A t BLAKEMAN PRINTING COMPANY 31823 Utica Road Fraser, Michigan 48026 Phone: (313) 293-3540 MONTHLY ADVERTISING RATES Double Page Spread.......................... $150.00 Back Outside P a g e ............................... 75.00 Ful I P a g e ........................................... 65.00 Half P a g e .......................................... 40.00 Quarter P a g e ................... . ................. 30.00 E i ghth P a g e ...................................... 1 5.00 Sixteenth P a g e ............................... 10.00 Classified Ad (per column inch)........... 7.50 D ISC O U N T R A T E : One Year 10% Note: Advertising fees may not be deducted from the above rates. }4 c lu 0 tti4 e 'l4 .' ■ ■ Aquatic Weed Control, Inc. Century Supply Company W. A. Cleary Chemical Corp. The Cottage Gardens, Inc. J. J. Dill Company FDS Fertilizers Golf Car Distributors Arthur Hills and Associates Lakeshore Equipment Corporation Lawn Equipment Corporation Lebanon/Agrico W. F. Miller Garden Northrup King & Co. 0. M. Scott & Sons Company Sprinkler Irrigation Supply Terminal Sales Corporation Tire Wholesalers Company, Inc. Turfgrass, Inc. Turf Supplies, Inc. USS Agri-Chemicals Wilkie Turf Equipment Company 4 USS Tee-Green 16-4-8... When you want uniform particle size we can deliver! When you apply USS Tee-Green 16-4-8 to your tees, greens and aprons you're assured that's where it will stay. There's no need to worry about mower pickup because the uniform particle size (90% minus 10 + 20 Mesh U.S. Sieve) means the granules will work their way quickly down through the grass to provide a consistent and even feeding. Of course this is just one of the advantages of this great product. Your local USS Verta­ green distributor can tell you much more about the advantages of nitrogen derived from urea- formaldehyde, the chelated iron, sulfate of potash and the guaran­ teed amounts of secondary and micro-nutriets in this fine product. USS Tee-Green is another reason we say, "see the best, for the best” — and that’s your local Vertagreen distributor. He can always deliver. Agri-Chemicals Division of United States Steel P O Box 1685, Atlanta, Ga 30301 < § T \ Vertagreen | Tee Green Technical Turf Food for Tees & Greens 1 6 -4 -8 San Antonio Conference Largest Ever i All Over 5,500 a t t e n d e d the 49th International Turfgrass Conference and Show. Attendance records were shat­ tered recently both in total attendance in the number of Golf Course and Superintendents. educational programs were well attended including the Seminars and the Certification Exams. Twelve newly certified golf course Superintendents were added to the roster. This brings the total number of GCGSs to 400. The equipment display covered over 125,000 square feet. This largest in history. The highlight of the conference was the keynote address by Dr. Earl Butz, former Secretary of Agriculture. His talk on “ I don’ t want to live in a inspired all of No Groth Society” those attending. It made all of us proud to be Americans. too was the A real “ shoot-em-up cowboys” watering hole. It didn’t take long for the boys to move - a little too wild. Century Rain Aid Supply Corp. was recently presented with a Special Award by the Turf Division of Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp. in appreciation for outstanding sales and service effort on the Marriott “ Great American" project. Receiving the award are Ken Hodas, center, and Ernie Hodas, right. Presenting the award is Ed Shoemaker, director of sales and marketing for the Turf Division, Raid Bird. 6 Attention all Superintendents and their Club Officials! Tax Reform Legislation President Carter’ s proposed tax reform legislation has gone to Con­ gress. It is currently being considered by the House Committee on Ways and Means. Public hearings are now being conducted. As the proposal now stands the new j > tax law would: 1. Eliminate the deductions claimed by businesses for CLUB DUES, CLUB FEES ( i n c l u d i n g golf and other athletic fees), ENTERTAINMENT, theater and sporting tickets, yacht, hunting lodges and first class air fare. 2. Limit the deduction for the cost of business-related meals to 50%. Congressional spokesmen tell us that a compromise may be made to kill the 50% restriction on deductions for food and beverages, in order to retain the provision disallowing tax deductions on fees, dues, entertainment and club other related items. Think o f what this would do to your membership and club spending! legislation which At this time help is needed from all members. Contact your Congress­ men and strongly urge them to fight this adversely affects our clubs and our jobs and the jobs of our employees. Also ask your Board of Directors and Club Members to exercise their support in this matter. Michigan and Border Cities Golf Course Superintendents joins the voice of the National Club Association and all other allied groups to impress upon you the importance of taking action NOW. Write your Congressman. Write to the members of the: House Committee on Ways and Means 1102 Longworth Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Guy Vander Jagt (R. - Mich) William M. Brodhead (D. - Mich) Call your Congressman - send a telegram to your Congressman. Do everything you can to make your voice heard. request comes from the CMAA. This action TURFGRASS RESEARCH FIELD DAY TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY Wednesday, May 24, 1978 COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS Beard of Soil & Crop Sciences Contact Dr. Richard Duble or James B. Texas A&M Uf, College Station, Texas Michigan Golfers do well in National Tournament Once again Bob Prieskorn has won the Seniors title in the National GCSAA annual tournament. He has won this trophy enough times to retire it two times. Earl Prieskorn took 5th place in the Seniors division. Other winners were: Fritz McMullen, 3rd place in Low Gross with a 148. J. Delcamp Jr., 9th in Low Net - 144. Chris Meyers won Low Gross in the Black Championship Flight - 156. Ward Swanson won 2nd in the same flight - 160. Kevin Dushane, 6th with 170. The Chapter team took 2nd in the Low Net tournament and 5th in the Low Gross Tournament. Becky Tate took 3rd in the Ladies Low Gross. t A R T H U R H I L L S LIST'D A S S O C I A T E S g o lf course architects 7351 W E S T BANCROFT • TOLEDO, OHIO 43617 ♦ 418-041-458O 7 Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council Elects New O fficers Pennsylvania At the Annual Meeting of the Penn­ in State sylvania Turfgrass Council in January, College, Mr. Donald J. Pakkala, CGCS, Grounds S u p e r i n t e n d e n t at Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pa., was elected President for the fiscal year 1978-79. Mr. Pakkala has been a member of the Council since 1972 and has served on a number of assignments. Currently, he is also Vice-President of the Philadelphia Association of G.C.S. and Chairman of the Education Com­ mittee, and a Ruling Elder in the Gladwyne Presbyterian Church. Former C o u n c i l P r e s i d e n t Art Wick of Sewickley, Pa. was elected Vice- President, Chris King of Bellefonte, Pa. was elected Secretary-Treasurer. Newly-elected Directors to the twelve person board were: George Morgan, Supt. at Wildwood C.C. in Pittsburgh area; Henry Meinert of Meinert Bros. Landscaping Co. in Pittsburgh; Dr. Charles Cuden, D.D.S., Green Chair­ man at Green Oaks C.C. in Pitts­ burgh; James MacLaren, CGCS, Supt. at Lebanon C.C. in Lebanon, Pa.; Michael Hair, CGCS, Supt. of Penn National Golf & C.C. in Fayetteville, Pa.; and Charles McGilloway, Supt. at LuLu Temple C.C. in North Hills, Pa. Others s e r v i n g terms on the Council Board are: C. William Black, CGCS, Supt. at Fountainhead C.C., Hagerstown, Md.; R. William Mar- berger, Jr., Fisher & Son Co., Malvern, Pa.; Gerald Brenneman, Supt. at Longue Vue C.C., Pittsburgh, Pa.; and David Guerin, Jr., E.H. Griffith Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. The P e n n s y l v a n i a Turfgrass Council, during 1977, contributed more than $20,000 to turfgrass research, teaching and extension at Penn State University. Two scholarships were awarded turfgrass students to reward achievement and to encourage further development and leadership. outstanding to Mr. Pakkala says that the turfgrass industry in Pennsylvania amounts to, in excess of $200 million annually. Turf is becoming more important in our economy as people have more time to spend recreation. The Council offers memberships and all dues are the Penn State Turf Program. turned over to on outdoor , Penncross, Grasses developed at Penn State creeping bent, include: Pennstar Kentucky bluegrass, Penn- 1 lawn red fescue, Pennpar bent, and Pennfine ryegrass. Mr. Pakkala urges support for the Council so that this vital work can continue. perennial How to kill weeds, stop diseases and make your job easier... all with one company... W.A.Cleary Herbicides MCPP • MCPP PLUS 2, 4-D METHAR 30 • AMA PLUS 2, 4-D AMA (SUPER METHAR) Fungicides 336 TURF FUNGICIDE BROMOSAN • SPECTRO CLEARY’S GRANULAR TURF SPOTRETE • PMAS (10%) CADDY • CAD-TRETE FUNGICIDE Specialties ALL WET • TRU-GREEN CLEAR SPRAY • GRASS-GREENZIT TANK CLEANER • DEFOAMER BALL WASHER O E r r r K f lL CORPORATION P.O. Box 10 Somerset, N.J. 08873• (201 )247-8000 8 A scene that makes us all smile — Golf cars buried in the snow. Bay Pointe Golf Club , January Meeting. Winter Wonderland m 9 Creating a Public Awareness By Ted Woehrle, Editor In a conversation with USGA offi­ it was decided that cials recently, because of our Concern for Conserva­ tion and the improvement in the playing conditions on American golf courses, we should perhaps take time out to impress on the public our combined c o n c e r n for the a p p a r e n t “ over watering” of our courses. For some time now the USGA and other club officials have stressed the point that we are guilty of over watering our courses for the simple reason that we are trying to keep the turf alive and green, especially on fairways. This has become a sore point with some of our Superintendents because they feel that the Green Grass Syndrome was created by the USGA. Needless to say, this is not true. It was created by Club members and energetic Superin­ tendents that wanted to keep up with | the neighboring course that always | I seem competition was established to see who could grow the ' most and the greenest grass. Anything 1 less than green was not acceptable. greener. A Now that there is a real concern for conservation on our part and a concern for the improvement in playing condi- > tions by the USGA we should be making an attempt to sit down and discuss these problems and decide how we are going to sell the American golfer on the idea that green is not * necessarily beautiful. Here is a recent article by A1 Radko of the USGA Green Section. Articles and discussions on this very important subject will be appearing in future issues o f “ A Patch of Green.” I . GREEN IS NOT GREAT By Alexander M. Radko in grasses A group the through from Britain visited the research grounds at Green Section Beltsville, Md., early in the 1950s when interest was high in the warm- season that area. Dr. Fred V. Grau, who was Green Section time, escorted the Director at visitors the grounds and enthusiastically described the studies that were being done. One was the Zoysia plot, which happened to be bleached tan in color because it was late October and Zoysia was dormant. After Dr. Grau finished his glowing discourse on Zoysia, one visitor, whose voise was exceptionally heavy and whose whisper could carry a long way, said, “ That’ s the first bloody time I’ ve heard so elegant an address on dead grass!” This remark typifies what most it’ s alive; people think about turfgrass - if it’ s green, if it’ s any other color, it’ s dead or dying! Many people also have the mistaken notion that the greener the grass, the healthier the turf. Unfortunately this notion is especially strong among golfers. They equate dark green with good playing turf, and they often refer to it as beautifully lush turf! Those trained in the study of turfgrass cringe at this description. To them lush means un­ desirable, succulent, out of condition, filled with juice or liquid - as the case may be. A lush growth often results from the needless race for color despite the face that color has minimal effect on turfgrass quality for golf. soft, Nature has provided grasses with Continued on Page 12 i i , j 18 DELICATE GREENS THAT NEED SPRAYING...FAST. If you own a Turf-Truckster, you already have the power for a power sprayer. A n 18-hp Turf-Truckster with P T O , extension shaft, and compact spraying rig lets you spray delicate greens quickly and gently. But you can also spray hard-to-reach rough, trees, bushes, foliage, fairways, or just about any area. T h e 100-gallon polyethylene tank and spraying equipment mounts in either the short or flatbed/ box in minutes. H ook the centrifugal pumping system to the P T O , select either the fold­ down boom, boomless nozzle, or high-pres­ sure handgun, and you’re ready to spray. There’s no need for pressure regulators or other high maintenance parts. T h e Turf- USE YOUR CUSHMAN. Truckster transmission teamed with the variable-speed governor assures uniform ground speed over varying terrain. A n d the accuracy of the metered spray can reduce chemical waste. T h e end result is an all-purpose spraying rig that can handle just about any spraying job you have . . . and handle it for years to come. Because, like every Cushman product, it’s built for longevity as well as performance. W ith other accessories, your Cushman can spike, dump, aerate, and top dress. U se it. It’s a lot more than basic transportation. It’s a total turf-care system. W rite for your Cushman Tu rf catalog today. CUSHMAIM TURF-CARE EQUIPMENT OMC-Lincoln, a Division of Outboard Marine Corporation, 6717 Cushman Drive, P.0. Box 82409, Lincoln, NB 6B501 Don't forget the Early Bird Truck Load Sale! HUGE SAVINGS ON TRUCKS & ACCESSORIES Call Now for a Demonstration and Price Quotation 11 GOLF CAR DISTRIBUTORS 1980 W. Wide Track Drive (U.S. 10) Pontiac, Michigan 48058 Phone: (313) 338-0425 It takes a very strong personality to stand up to 300 members and say, “ You are wrong! My program is the best long-range direction for the club, we’ ll do it my way completely and totally!” The usual result is a com­ promise in program, sometimes doing things more for cosmetic purposes and not because it’ s the best thing to do. The scene. is a forced pressure of a membership indeed has great bearing on the golf course management It has spawned Poa annua-oriented thinking because in reality this is what some ( Poa annua, an memberships want. unreliable annual grass, is considered a weed by some, but a good turf cover j by others.) The result growth of grasses that makes them | uniformly greener, but this does not necessarily mean is better for golf. A forced growth is not a healthy growth! Without question it is | also a large part of the reason why “ winter rules” prevail at so-called today despite many adequate If memberships would throughout accept their courses during the p l a y i n g season, they would be able to play the ball as they find it for a greater part, if not for all the golfing season. the condition occasionally expenditure. off-color golf courses budget areas Green is not Great Cont. much genetic diversity. This includes wide differences in color, ranging from dark blue-green to light yellow- green and every intermediate shade. It is interesting to note that Europeans prefer the light green grasses while Americans very definitely favor a deep blue-green, similar to the dark color of Merion bluegrass. There are bent- grasses referred to as the Washington types that take on a purple cast with cold weather. Cohansey (C-7) creeping is an example of yellow- bentgrass green, and a l t h o u g h it makes an outstanding putting turf, it isn’ t widely accepted because of its very light color. Why is not therefore, consideration. GOLF Grasses also turn tan with cold weather. During the winter, northern and southern grasses turn differing shades of tan depending upon the l o c a t i o n where they are grown. Despite this, even the most drastic color change does not affect the playing quality of well-managed turf, a fact that is strikingly evident with warm-season grasses during the winter. Although dormant and off-color, grasses hold the ball nicely for fairway play. Color, the most important IS PLAYED ON GRASS, NOT ON COLOR! this obsession with color? Golfers like to brag about the color of their golf course; they equate dark green with health, they take pride in that s a y i n g looks than yours!” They also healthier complain about their courses; they compare some neighboring course from a distance (where, indeed, the grass always looks greener) or they compare the course they played when growing conditions were ideal with the condi­ tion o f their own clubs at times of stress when growing conditions are poor. Unfair? Yes, but it’ s difficult to overcome it circulates within a membership. Too often such comments force management to say, “ If that’ s what they want, that’ s what we have to give them.” such p r e s s u r e once “ our c o u r s e strongest growth Turfgrass, as any plant, has varied cycles of growth. Warm-season grasses begin growth in the spring and show their in summer. When cold weather comes they go into a period of semi depending upon the degree of cold experienced in any specific location. in spring as air All growth begins temperatures rise above freezing. Growth is slow until the soil warms and winter moisture disappears. Cool- 1 season grasses go into their stress Continued on Page 15 total dormancy, j America has become so tense and nervous it has been years since I’ve seen anyone asleep in church — and that is a sad situation. — Norman Vincent Peale 12 TORO GROUNDSMASTER 72 worth more Durability, versatility and top perform ance features make the G roundsm aster 72® worth more. WILKIE TURF Equipment Company P.O. BOX 749 • PONTIAC, MICHIGAN 48056 1050 OPDYKE ROAD • PHONE (313) 373-8800 13 COUNfRY CLUB PROFESSIONAL TURF PRODUCTS GIVE YOU MORE! ★ ★ ★ ★ Full Weight (High Density) for easy, fast, full width spread. A Complete Feeding in every granule of needed turf-grass nutrients. A Balanced Fertilizer Ratio with no inert fillers. Available only through a network of trained distributors, thus assuring you of lower sales costs, meaning greater value to you. For More Information, Contact: James L. Camp (219) 4 8 5 -6 8 2 8 ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING THE MICHIGAN AND BORDER CITIES GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION? Fill in the questionaire below and mail to: BOB HOPE The Lochmoor Club 20740 Marter Road Grosse Pointe Woods, Mi. 48236 Off. 881-8112, Res. 884-8684 NAME OF INTERESTED PERSON DATE _____ MAILING ADDRESS..... ......................................................................... C IT Y ___________________ . S T A T E ___________ ZIP---------------- Or you may contact the next g o lf course supplier who c a lls on you and give him the inform ation needed for application. 14 in Green is not Great Cont. period in summer; they enter a period of semi-dormancy, which is a resting . stage of reduced metabolism, until cool nights prevail late summer. Then they resume good growth through­ fall. During winter they go out the dormant with freezing weather and ^ remain in that condition until spring. This is their yearly cycle; there is no way to change it and attempts to force growth or to force color can have only a harmful effect on their healthful growth. therefore, cool- season grasses take time to regain their normal color. Don’t hurry it by watering and too early. These turf, make it soft and succulent, and more often than not impose a greater stress on the turf during difficult periods of summer. fertilizing practices weaken In spring, the early ) and Early w a t e r i n g spring precipitation is difficult to < justify. Grasses don’ t die in the spring from lack of water! Normally, winter is adequate to provide for early season grass needs. It is at this time that grasses have the o p p o r t u n i t y to develop deep root systems that are so 5 necessary for healthful growth through- . out the rest of the growing year. Early irrigation encourages shallow roots. Grasses are much the same as humans; they, too, can be conditioned to a way of life and never know any other. The , time to be rough and still get away with it is in the early spring. What is done during this stage of growth has a strong bearing on how the grasses perform during the rest of the year, especially during stress periods. So the grass isn’ t green! So the greens don’ t hold well for the first month of play! So what? This is the time of year for the player to work his swing into the groove for better summer play; similarly, this is the time for grasses to work themselves out of dormancy, to condition themselves for the tough road ahead. There is a big difference between growing grasses for golf and growing grasses for exhibi­ tions. Utility grasses must be hardened so that they can serve their purpose. They must be disciplined and condi­ tioned traffic, abuse and wear under trying conditions of close cut. This is tough treatment but toughness is necessary for their healthful per­ formance when the chips are down. If members would accept this as a way of golf course life, it would be easier to develop permanent grasses in place of Poa annua. for is another golf courses. Terrain fact of life in There irrigating is varied. Slopes, mounds, hills and depressions complement whatever level areas are to be found. Soils vary too, in depth as well as in composition. Sand, gravel, rock or ledge permeate areas of golf course property, and soil types vary, sometimes slightly, some­ times greatly. How it possible, therefore, irrigate uniformly when water runoff and water penetration are SO variable? Cont. on Next Page to is No synthetically produced fertilizer can compare with MILORGANITE Golf Courses Use More MILORGANITE Than Any Other Fertilizer TERMINAL SALES CORR 12871 EATON AVE. D E T R O IT , MICH. 48227 (313) 491 -0606 15 Green is not Great Cont. the You can’ t! If you want to keep the high spots and rock ledge areas green in summer, you must overwater the adjacent areas. If you set your pattern of irrigation to favor low areas, then the high spots suffer. The point is that there is no uniform way to satisfy all condi­ tions of soil and terrain in irrigating golf courses. Something must suffer, and the agronomically sound direction to pursue is to water only enough to keep grasses alive without serious regard for the development of off-color areas. Over watering is one of the cardinal sins of turfgrass management. If your course doesn’ t have off-color areas under then chances are your turf is being over­ watered to satisfy the membership’ s “ keep it green at all costs’ ’ edict - whether it favors Poa annua or not! conditions described, This is another reason why turf­ grass managers throw their hands up and sooner or later follow the path of least resistance. Why fight it if their members play golf on color? is viewpoint water Poa annua is the perfect answer for a good portion of the year. From the members’ the answer to keeping grass green. After all, when an expensive system is installed, the members will take no excuses for grasses turning off-color; if the grass isn’ t solidly green, then the man doesn’ t know his business. Let’ s fire him and get someone new! What a misconception! What an unfair, amateurish appraisal! However, the old axiom applies: “ The boss may not always be right, but he’ s always boss!’ ’ is it. Heavy Fertilizer also promotes color in turfgrasses. Nitrogen can modify the natural color of grasses slightly, making them a shade darker green than normal, especially when they are heavily fertilized. Color can be in­ duced early in spring by applications of nitrogen. This forced growth, inducing faster growth than the plant would make otherwise, an accepted practice, but only if it is timely and controlled. We have already said that grasses, too, are creatures of habit. If you feed them heavily, they come to expect feeding, however, induces heavy and thick-bladed growth, If grasses are overstimulated and are fed too early, their growth is soft, succulent and porting the golf ball. Hungry grass, on the other hand, is tough grass; blades > that are hungry and lean support the ball well and interfere least with the clubhead’ s progress through the ball. When the grasses are ready to move, only a little help from fertilizer will provide healthful growth. It’ s important to wait for signs that they are ready j for is good agronomic practice. This is what most superin- ;! tendents would do if they managed only l for the turfgrass needs. less capable of sup- ^ food. This j j Mowing also has a bearing on color. 1 Continued on Page 21 1 ProTurf Helping the superintendent through turf research... I Controlled Release Fertilizers I Fertilizer/Pesticide Combinations I Fungicides-Herbicides—Insecticides I Soil Testing-Weed & Disease Identification s c o t t s • l e l y • g a n d y s p r e a d e r s Finest quality turfgrass seed-Fairways • Greens • Tees • Roughs Scotts Windsor and Victa blends 16 Steve Dearborn Technical Representative 6152 Cold Spring Trails Grand Blanc, Mich. 48439 Telephone: 313/695-2738 Keep your lakes and ponds clean and beautiful. Free of Weeds and Algae. AQUATIC WEED CONTROL. INC. P.0. Box 157 Imlay City, MI 48444 (A DIVISION OF CYGRET ENTERPRISES) Telephone: (313) 724-6000 A Complete Line of Nursery Plant Material SHRUBS • SHADE TREES • EVERGREENS • ORNAMENTAL TREES Bare root, Potted or B & B We Welcome the Opportunity To Bid on All Your Plant Needs The Cottage Gardens, Inc. S. Waverly and Bishop Rds. Just off 1-96; Logan St. Exit Lansing, Mich. 48910 Phone: 517/882-5728 Write for new complete wholesale catalog now available. 17 FORE-PAR MANUFACTURING CHICOPEE MANUFACTURING CO. 3M ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS AGRICO F E R T IL IZ E R S FOX V A LLEY MARKING SYSTEMS E. I. DUPONT ACTI-DIONE PRODUCTS VELSICOL CHEMICALS CONTAINER DEVELOPMENT CYCLONE SEEDER COMPANY MALLINCKRODT CHEMICALS TURFGRASS, INC. Phone: Area 313 437-1427 Dan Jones wins GCSAA Chapter Newsletter Editor Award Dan Jones, Golf Course Superin­ tendent of Aventura Country Club, North Miami Beach, Fla., is the 1978 recipient of the Golf Course Superin­ tendents of America (GCSAA) Chapter Newsletter Editor Award. Jones is editor of “ The South Florida Green,” official newsletter of the South Florida Golf Course Superin­ tendents Association. Association This is the first year the award has been given. Newsletters were judged on the basis of o v e r a l l q u a l i t y , appropriate design, editing, content, scope and writing quality. Twenty-three chapter newsletter editors entered the contest. Judges for the contest were chosen for their editing expertise and know­ ledge o f the golf course superinten­ dent’ s profession. They were David Slaybaugh, editor of Golf Business; editor o f Grounds Joseph Clough, Maintenance; associate editor of Golf Digest. and Dwayne Netland, award was established by The to encourage high quality GCSAA chapter newsletters, the contributions made by chapter news­ letter editors and encourage the estab­ lishment of more chapter newsletters. recognize Jones is also vice president of the South Florida GCSA, and has served the organization as director in the past. He was r e c e n t l y elected a director of the Florida Turf Grass Association. He in 1975. joined GCSAA Jones was recognized and received a trophy at the Press and Speakers Luncheon Monday, February 13, during GCSAA’ s Turfgrass Conference and Show in San Antonio. “ A Patch of Green” was not entered but we have entered the contest for 1978. Don’t blame your Northrup King man if he wants to play your fairways, after you revitalize them with Overseeder II. Your Northrup King man will know if Overseeder II Overseeder II quickly develops into the kind of is the right prescription for your course and your turf that makes tees and fairways irresistible to any area. If it isn’t, he can recommend the golfer. appropriate overseeding formula, custom- It’s easy to understand what you get out of blended by Northrup King to solve your Overseeder II when you know what goes into it: a blend of Parade and Adelphi Kentucky particular problem. Bluegrasses and Eton and Pennfine Contact your Northrup King representa­ tive or distributor. He’ll gladly come out for fine-leafed perennial ryegrasses. Combining a consultation. And once he gets finished all the advantages of these varieties, with your course, don’t be surprised Overseeder II transforms sparse, if he turns up again —with his golf shoes patchy areas into dense turf that holds up under and clubs. even the heaviest weekend traffic. O R T H R U P K I N G CO. BOX 959 • MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55440 19 U ^ C & E N G IN E E R E D R A IN Turf IF YOU MISSED US IN SAN ANTONIO ... then you missed a demon­ stration of the new ... KCS COMPUTERIZED CONTROLLER FOR GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION. KCS is a keyboard controlled, all solid state mini-computer with memory — multiple program -- digital display — central processor — and many more features. Control the entire irrigation system from your desk. The KCS central processor is the only true two-wire system. KCS programs are easy to set up and easy to change. Call Jim Vince, Mike Byrnes and Tom Kennedy at SISCO for a personal demonstration. Johns-Manville ENGINEERED RAIN Sprinkler Irrigation Supply Co. A division of A.J. Miller Inc. 1316 No. Campbell Rd. Royal Oak, Mi. 48067 Phone (313) 398-2233 Chicago Sales Office/Warehouse 1738 Armitage Court, Addison, III. 60101 (313) 629-7730 20 Turf Manager’s Guide Available from Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council Now available from The Pennsyl­ vania Turfgrass Council: A Turf Manager’ s Guide - Microscopic of Common Turfgrass Identification Pathogens Patricia O’ Connor Sanders, Research Assistant, Depart­ ment of Plant Pathology, The Pennsyl­ vania State University. 28 pp. 6 x 9 ” by for features of the This manual is a practical identifi- c at io n guide the on-site turf manager. It deals chiefly with micro­ scopic fungi which cause turfgrass disease and how to recognize them. The manual includes directions c o m p l e t e sample preparation and microscope use. Photomicrographs are included of the the f o l l o w i n g fungi which cause leaf spot/ diseases melting-out, Fusarium blight, Fusarium snow mold, anthrac- nose, brown patch, d o l l a r s p o t , Pythium blight, red thread, and Typhula snow mold. turfgrass: fading-out, for of Directions for nematode assay and photomicrographs of stylet nematodes are also included. A complete glossary of terms is provided, as well as infor­ mation on approximate cost and kinds of microscopes which the on-site manager may find useful. PA Turfgrass Council Members - $5.00 Non-members - $10.00 LAKESHORE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. D I S T R I B U T O R & F O R M U L A T O R G R A SS S E E D - F E R T I L I Z E R S I N S E C T I C I D E S - F U N G I C I D E S . H E R B I C I D E S R E P L A C E M E N T MOWER P A R T S R E P L A C E M E N T T IR E S L E S C O Products P rice Q uotation On Request C A L L OU R NEW O F F I C E 300 So. Abbe Rd., Elyria, Ohio 44035 (216) 323-7544 M I C H I G A N CU STO M ER S Call Toll Free: (800) 321-7423 ' towards Green is not Great Cont. The higher the cut, the easier it is to keep grasses green and the better the color, especially during periods of stress. The mowing height, the mowing frequency and the mowing pattern each influences health and color. The closer the grasses are cut, the better they play. The closer they are cut, the more difficult it is to keep them uniformly green. Again, terrain and soils have a strong bearing on the performance of grasses on certain areas. The closer the cut, the more difficult it is to manage water properly. Water applica­ tion is more critical here again, if it is pointed the preservation of the permanent grasses. This means a low amount of watering. Poa annua always benefits from overwatering. In the days before irrigation, grasses were often mowed at VA to IV2 inches. When the grass was dry, this cut was not objectionable because dry grass blades are thin and rigid and the clubhead can move through the ball easily. The unwatered grass is light and firm, while the watered grass is soft and heavy. Unwatered grass allows a firm surface; heavy watering results in a soft, spongy turf and soil and, therefore, the golfer loses some control over his shots. A good example of this phenomenon now exists on unwatered rough areas. Find a spot and try it for yourself. The problem, however, under completely unwatered conditions is a lack of turf uniformity and density. E l i m i n a t i n g water obviously is not the answer, just as too much water is not the answer either. fairway The solution lies in a management program somewhere in between. The British system of course management for the most part represents the least watering principle, the tough manage­ laissez faire ment of grasses, Continued on Next Page the There is just as much authority in the family today as there ever was — only now the children exercise it. 21 FDS FERTILIZERS 5324 W. Bloomfield Lake W. Bloomfield, Mi. 48033 Phone: (313) 851-7766 Premium Fertilizers by D I S T R I B U T O R S **